Chapter 199: The Cost Of Creation

Kane stretched back in his chair, patting his stomach with satisfaction. "That was incredible. I think I’m going to roll out of here."

Cyrus signaled the server, who appeared instantly with the check.

Kane didn’t even glance at the total as Cyrus slid his black card across the table—another gesture so routine it had become background noise in their relationship.

"Thank you for dinner," Kane said as they gathered their things, the dragon egg case secure in his grip.

"My pleasure."

They walked to the BMW in comfortable silence, but Kane’s mind was already spinning.

The parchment practically burned a hole in his awareness, and Cyrus’s evasiveness only made him more determined.

Once they were settled in the car, Kane tried his first approach.

"You know, I was thinking about baby names earlier. What do you think about ’Crystal’? Very sparkly, very eternal—"

"We’re not naming our son after a geological formation," Cyrus said smoothly, pulling into traffic.

Kane tried again ten minutes later.

"I saw this documentary about ancient artifacts. Did you know some crystals can supposedly control—"

"Documentary filmmakers rarely fact-check their supernatural claims."

By the third attempt, Kane was getting creative.

"I had this weird dream last night about gods crying diamonds. Super weird, right? All eternal and crystal-like—"

Cyrus turned up the radio.

Kane leaned forward, changing tactics entirely.

"If you don’t tell me about that parchment, I’m going to start researching dragon mating rituals online. Publicly. With very loud commentary."

Cyrus’s knuckles tightened on the steering wheel. "You wouldn’t dare."

"Try me. I’ll livestream it."

They pulled into the underground garage, and Cyrus killed the engine. In the sudden silence, Kane could practically hear the wheels turning in Cyrus’s mind.

The elevator ascended in tense silence, Kane clutching the dragon egg case while Cyrus stared at the floor numbers.

Kane’s fox ears twitched with irritation, and Cyrus’s jaw remained locked tight.

"You’re being ridiculous," Kane muttered.

"I’m being protective."

"Of what? Ancient history?"

The doors opened to reveal their penthouse.

Kane set the dragon egg case carefully on the coffee table and turned to face Cyrus, who was already moving toward the bathroom.

"Oh no, you don’t."

Cyrus paused, his hand on the doorframe. "I have to shower—"

"You promised we’d talk after dinner." Kane crossed his arms, blocking Cyrus’s path. "Dinner’s over."

"I said we’ll see."

"Which was a lie, and we both know it." Kane stepped closer, amber eyes flashing.

"You can’t keep dodging this, Cyrus. That parchment mentioned the Eternal God Crystal, and Elias had files about it. This isn’t some random ancient artifact—it’s connected to everything that’s happening."

Cyrus’s jaw tightened. "Some knowledge is dangerous, Kane."

"More dangerous than letting Elias piece it together himself while we stay in the dark?" Kane’s voice rose.

"He’s already using shard essences to create artificial spirits. What happens when he figures out how to remake the entire crystal?"

The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken truths.

"You’re the last dragon," Kane said quietly. "If anyone knows the real history, it’s you. Please, Cyrus. Trust me with this."

Cyrus’s expression shuttered completely. "There’s really nothing to discuss."

"What do you mean nothing to—"

"Elias would not be able to recreate the Eternal God Crystal even if he wanted to." Cyrus’s voice carried an odd finality. "If that is indeed his ultimate plan."

Kane’s fox ears twitched. "Why not? What aren’t you telling me?"

"I’m taking a shower." Cyrus turned away, dismissing the conversation entirely.

"Cyrus, wait—"

The bathroom door slammed shut, followed by the distinct click of a magical lock engaging.

Kane stared at the closed door, his investigative instincts screaming. Cyrus’s phrasing had been too precise.

Would not be able to recreate wasn’t the same as couldn’t figure out how.

He began pacing, mind racing. What would prevent someone from recreating an ancient artifact? Missing components? Lost knowledge? Or...

Kane froze mid-step. The way Cyrus had said it, with that haunted look in his eyes—it wasn’t about technical impossibility. It was personal.

What if the Eternal God Crystal required something specific to forge? Something that no longer existed? Something like...

Dragons?

Kane’s heart hammered as the pieces clicked into place.

The Night of Falling Stars, when the spirit realm shattered and the Black Dragon clan was blamed for unleashing forbidden power.

He’d heard whispers at the Bureau, fragments of ancient testimony from elder spirits who’d survived the crossing.

Most accounts were dismissed as trauma-induced fantasies, but certain details kept surfacing: dragons wielding impossible power, reality bending around their presence, and then... nothing.

Complete extinction.

Kane sank onto the couch, staring at the dragon egg.

What if the Eternal God Crystal required dragon essence, dragon fire, dragon sacrifice?

The water shut off in the bathroom.

If Kane was right, then Cyrus carried more than just survivor’s guilt.

He carried the knowledge that his entire species had been consumed to create the very artifact now driving Elias’s obsession.

And the egg...

Kane’s hands trembled as he touched the case. If this little dragon hatched, would Elias see it as the missing component to his twisted experiments?

The bathroom door opened, steam billowing out.

"Cyrus," Kane’s voice cracked. "Tell me the dragons weren’t sacrificed to forge the crystal."

Cyrus emerged from the bathroom, toweling his hair, and stopped when he saw Kane’s stricken expression.

"Tell me the dragons weren’t sacrificed to forge the crystal."

Cyrus blinked, genuinely taken aback. Of all the conclusions Kane might have drawn from his evasiveness, this hadn’t been one of them.

"What?" He set the towel aside, studying Kane’s pale face. "You think the Eternal God Crystal was forged from dragon sacrifice?"

Kane’s ears flattened. "The way you said Elias couldn’t recreate it, like something essential was missing. And with dragons extinct—"

"Kane." Cyrus’s lips twitched, amusement creeping into his voice despite himself. "That’s... remarkably dramatic, even for you."

"I’m serious!"

"I can see that." Cyrus moved to the couch, sitting beside the dragon egg case. "Your investigative mind is impressive, truly. But you’ve missed the mark entirely."

Kane’s shoulders sagged with relief, then tensed again. "Then what did you mean? Why can’t Elias recreate it?"

Cyrus’s expression grew serious again. "Because certain components of the original forging no longer exist. But not dragons, Kane. Something far more fundamental."

"What could be more fundamental than an entire species?"

"Gods."